MSNBC: Streets bearing MLK’s name often in worst part of town

Derek Alderman, geography department head, was interviewed by MSNBC for a story which takes a look back at Martin Luther King’s legacy by analyzing the streets across the country that bear his name. Alderman has studied the names of these streets for fifteen years. His current work seeks to create a closer dialogue between the study of place naming and issues of social and spatial justice and African American belonging. “This isn’t really just about King,” he told the reporter. “This is about bringing visibility to African Americans, their historical importance in a broader, more general away. It goes to the heart of whose histories matter in America.” To view the story, visit MSNBC’s website.